About Me

I started reading comics regularly after 'Final Crisis: Rage of the Red Lanterns'. Since then, I've become a co-host on 'The LanternCast' (a podcast dedicated to Green Lantern that's been on the air since 2008), started a new podcast covering the late 1980's DC series Action Comics Weekly (appropriately titled The Action Comics Weekly Podcast), and have been the curator of THE blog on the internet dedicated to the character of Ragman, created by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert published by DC Comics starting in 1976 and currently appearing on The CW show 'Arrow' as portrayed by actor Joe Dinicol. I'm an avid fan of comics, classic rock, and speaking my mind. Welcome!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

The Diabolical Plan from Oa...

(Green Lantern #11 teases things to come)

Between preparations for important upcoming
episodes of "The Lanterncast!", getting ready for New York Comic Con
& organizing a future event for this blog (that I don't want to
spoil just yet); I've been a little behind on my postings. Unfortunately
that will probably continue for the next month or so as all of these
things in the works finally come to fruition. On another note, I can't find the
power cord or the USB cord to my scanner so the ideas for posts I have
rattling around in my brain will have to wait. But, through the wonder
of the Google image search, I've collected the necessary images to get
out at least ONE of these ideas! So sit back and enjoy folks because Oa
knows I've got to get this stuff out before "The Rise of the Third Army"
reveals too much more.

*inhales for dramatic effect, exhales slowly*

Ok, you all remember that full page spread from
issue #11 of 'Green Lantern' in which Geoff Johns took an opportunity to
showcase a few upcoming plot points for the GLU (Green Lantern
Universe, keep up people). Well, after the events of the 'Green Lantern
Annual #1', I've got a few ideas on where this is going and I'm going to
need some serious space to work out these half baked theories.

FIRST: Lets take the image of Atrocitus leading a pack of Manhunters on a vicious attack on...something.

(Atrocitus leads the Manhunters)

From Atocitus' past history we all know that it
would take a great deal for him to work WITH the Manhunters. (They're
the ones who obliterated Ryut don't ya know?) However, we've seen in the
past that when shit hits the fan, Atrocitus temporarily sets aside his
personal vendettas to protect his Corps or himself. (EX. 'Blackest
Night')

With the Guardians finally losing the last of
their cosmic marbles and creating the Third Army, it's possible that
their ability to recreate themselves simply by touching another living
being would directly threaten the existence of not only Atrocitus
himself but of his entire Corps. With the threat level that high,
Atrocitus would be inclined to once again set aside his plans for vengeance and do whatever is necessary to stop the Guardians.

So why Manhunters? One reason. They aren't organic, living beings. Take this image from the Green Lantern Annual...

(The rise of the Third Army begins)

It's obvious that the Third Army creates more of
themselves by altering the genetic make up of living organisms.
There-by making them an ideal force to utilize against this impending
disaster. Not to mention the set-up for this has been laid out in the
pages of 'Green Lantern Corps' when Guy and John returned to the Foundry
beneath Oa.

SECOND: Dart down really quick to the image of Kyle fully embracing the power of the Red Lanterns.

(Kyle becomes a Red Lantern)

If you keep up with the news surrounding
upcoming comic story lines, you might have seen an article from Newsarama
in which they interviewed Tony Bedard regarding the future of 'Green
Lantern: New Guardians'. Without regurgitating the entirety of that
interview, let's just cut straight to the part that concerns us and this
image...

Bedard: "During the four months of "Rise of the
Third Army", Kyle will be on a quest to master every shade of the
Emotional Spectrum. He'll have to learn to wield Hope, Compassion, Fear,
Rage, Love and Avarice. It's those "negative" emotions like avarice,
fear and rage that will prove the greatest challenge and affect Kyle's
personality the most."

So it's obvious that this image is merely
hinting at things to come for Kyle. Those of you with a keen memory will
remember that Kyle has a direct history with Fear and Hope but hasn't
yet been able to wield them with any level of expertise. Also, if you'll
recall, when all of the rings gathered on Kyle and he became a Mega
Lantern of sorts, it failed because the Orange ring was actually
Glomulous and probably because Kyle didn't yet know how to wield all of
the emotions properly. Which brings me to my next point...

(The White Lantern ring returns)

THIRD: That damn white ring. Unfortunately for
us, there are four possibilities to whom it is wielding that white ring.
From least likely to most likely, (as I see it) let me break down the
reasoning for you.

Sinestro: It COULD be Sinestro because he's
currently "dead". The potential continues however because I believe that
Sinestro can't, in good conscience, go back to being a Yellow Lantern.
It goes against everything Johns' has set up for him so far. So either
he remains dead (HIGHLY unlikely), comes back and continues being a
Green Lantern (more likely as it holds a lot of potential for future story lines) or becomes a White Lantern and remains so (possible, but
effectively takes him off the table too much).

Hal Jordan: I believe that Johns' has a finite
amount of storys that he wants to tell for Hal. He brought him back for a
purpose but it kind of feels like Hal isn't supposed to be here, at
least in the role of a Green Lantern, much longer. Added to that the
fact that he's currently "dead" and the possibility has to be accounted
for. But, with Hal being the main Green Lantern in the movie universe
and so entrenched in the New 52, it's unlikely they'd take him off the
table AS a Green Lantern.

(White Lantern Abin Sur: 'Flashpoint')

Abin Sur: They've mentioned him A LOT recently.
With references to his sister Arin's relationship with Sinestro as well
as Abins role in the creation of the Indigo Tribe, he's been influencing
alot of what is going on currently. Plus there's that little image from
the 'Flashpoint' universe...

Lastly we have the MOST likely...

Kyle Rayner: With Bedard putting him in a story
where he ACTIVELY is seeking to master every emotion, never before has
the possibility of a White Lantern resulting from the use of every
emotion been higher. Also, you have to take into consideration that with
Kyle, John, Guy, Hal and now Baz, that seems like one too many Earth
Green Lanterns to keep track of. Someone has to go which either means
someone dies, or someone is taken off the Green Lantern playing feild
and put somewhere else. Like maybe a position in which they weild a
power and a potential that MANY fans of the character fully believe he
DESERVES...

FOURTH: One of the glimpses we get of the future is of Guy Gardner imprisoned somewhere, but where?

(Guy Gardner behind bars)

First of all, it CAN'T be on Earth. That makes
no sense. Also it CAN'T be on Oa. The Guardians methods for detaining
people aren't via the use of physical metal bars. Besides, WHY would the
Guardians imprison Guy and not KILL him? Which leaves us with one
option. Guy is imprisoned somewhere that ISN'T Earth and ISN'T Oa. So
where have we seen a prision, made of standard metal, recently?

(During 'War of the Green Lanterns' we learned the Indigo Tribe was kept imprisoned somewhere)

Oh that's right! Planet Nok! In the very prisons that the Indigo Tribe members were kept in before they had a
ring popped onto their fingers. Now WHY would Guy be incarcerated there?
Who knows. But it makes more sense than the other two possibilities.

LASTLY: Those two cloaked individuals lurking in the shadows?

(Hal and Sinestro work well off the Guardians radar)

That's Hal and Sinestro. Without question. They appear NOWHERE on any of the cover solicitations for the Third Army crossover...

...and there is NO WAY DC would take two of
their most recognizable and iconic chracters from that line off of the
table. Hal and Sinestro have been working in secret away from the prying
eyes of the Guardians this whole time anyways, why not continue that
trend?

So that's it folks. A quick recap, I predict
that: Atrocitus is leading the Manhunters because they cannot be
effected by the Third Army, Guy is imprisioned on planet Nok, Kyle
Rayner is most likely the White Lantern, Hal and Sinestro are the
cloaked figures and Kyle is a Red Lantern because he's actively seeking
to learn how to weild all emotions.

There you go! Hopefully that tides you over for a little while. Don't forget to comment!

4 comments:

I don't think I agree with you about Sinestro and his Yellow Ring. I think (and Hope) he'll claim it again. Maybe even use it to work with the Green Lanterns (minus the Guardians). Understanding fear probably gives him an advantage when using a Green Ring. Hell I'll settle for him keeping one ring in reserve.

I think I agree with your other theories. Certainly if the Guardians turn to the White Light to power their Corps or their new champion then Hal or Sinestro must take up the opposite. And since the Third Army seems to infect the living they probably cannot infect dead matter.

Corwin has a good point. There was the prophecy that Hal would become the greatest Black Lantern, and what better way then to use a Black ring to fight the Third Army?

I think Kyle has the best chance of merging the 7 colors to use white, but I don't know that I think he will be the one to actually wield the white ring. Like, he'll have access, but someone else will actually NEED the ring, like Abin.

Not to mention, Hal and Sinestro, both dead right now. So is Abin. So it would be pretty stupid of them NOT to try and get Abin to help them out from the other side as long as they're there.

Oh, and good point about the Manhunters being inorganic and that being an advantage against the Third Army.

IF Sinestro claims his Yellow Ring, there is NO WAY he can go back to being the "villain" he once was. It goes against EVERY story point Johns has put him through in recent months. (starting with him helping Hal fight Krona in the War of the GL's) I only said no Yellow Ring because, right now, a Yellow Ring essentially means "bad guy". But if Sinestro can still wield it and play for the good guys, definitely possible.

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